Straight Talk

Straight Talk may be the cheapest way to get unlimited wireless service, but critics say you can get better phones -- and customer service -- elsewhere. Straight Talk's Unlimited plan (*Est. $45 for 30 days) includes unlimited talk, messaging, data and 411 calls for 30 days. That's even cheaper than the top-rated prepaid plan, Boost Mobile Monthly Unlimited (*Est. $50 per month), but Straight Talk adds additional taxes and fees, while Boost Mobile's flat $50 includes everything. If you don't need unlimited service, Straight Talk offers one other option: The All You Need plan (*Est. $30 for 30 days) includes 1,000 minutes of talk time, 1,000 text or picture messages, 30 MB of data and unlimited 411 calls. Those minutes and services expire every 30 days; unused portions don't roll over to the next month. Despite the attractive pricing and generous minute allotments, reviews find some major drawbacks to Straight Talk. It doesn't work outside the U.S., and it offers only basic handsets, unlike the fancier phones found at Boost Mobile and T-Mobile Prepaid (*Est. $10 for 30 min. and up). Straight Talk benefits from the extensive network and high call quality of its parent company, TracFone, but customers gripe about poor customer service from Straight Talk.

Straight Talk had just hit the market as of this update, so few expert sources have reviewed it. However, more than 500 users have already reviewed Straight Talk at PrepaidReviews.com, and editors there also evaluate Straight Talk and rank it against other prepaid wireless plans. The New York Times dedicates an article to Straight Talk, pointing out its pros and cons. ConsumerReports.org discusses this new plan briefly within its latest prepaid wireless ratings. Engadget Mobile reviews the handsets Straight Talk offers and finds them outdated.